Button-stop for use in connection with the ropes or cableways.



I 3 in said sections.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

WILLIAM M. SHAW, OF GREENVILLE, MAINE.

BUTTON-STOP FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ROPE-S 0F CABLEVVAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed January 4, 1911. Serial No. 600,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM M. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Greenville, in the county of Piscataquis and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Stops for Use in Connection with the Ropes of Cableways, of which the following is a specification...

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in button stops for use in 'connection with the ropes of cableways, and the object of the invention is to provide a button stop which will be flexible lengthwise of the rope, so that it may pass around'sheaves, drums, or other curved surfaces, and in so doing conform to the curved surface of the same, and which will take substantially the same curve that the cable may take during any operation thereof.

The invention consists in the improvements to be fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as part of this specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a cable having my improved button stop applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the sections of the button stop. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section through the button stop showing the manner of connecting the parts. Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation showing a position taken by the parts in passing around a curved surface.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, 1 designates a flexible member such, for instance, as a piece or section, of wire rope upon which is mounted a plurality of rigid sections 2, which may be made of suitable metal or other hard rigid material, the member extending through central openings These sections are each substantially frusto-conical in form and are so arranged upon the flexible member 1 sutlicient clearance between the sections whereby they may move relative to each other when carried around a curved surface, the convexly curved faces of the sections rocking on each other to permit such movement.

The sections 2 are hcld together in substantially the relation shown in Fig. 3 wherein they abut each other by means of filler blocksfi and 6 placed within the flexible member 1, just beyond the ends of the outermost sections 2, whereby the flexible member is expanded and projected laterally as at 7 so as to prevent endwise movement of the section along the cable, and thereby 0bviate material separation of said sections. The blocks 5 and 6 are preferably arranged such a distance apart that the sections may have slight play lengthwise of the flexible member 1, and thus render the button more adaptable to any curved surface over which it may travel or. to the deflection of the rope. r

The outer oppositely tapered surface of the button is preferably arranged with continuous, longitudinally 1 extending spiral grooves 8 which when the parts are assembled, serve a purpose to be presently described.

In applying the button to a 'cableway the latter is untwisted or expanded at the point where the button is located substantially as.

shown in Fig. 1, and a portion of the core of the cable is removed through this expanded portion and for a distance beyond the ends thereof." The button is then placed in position in the cage formed by expanding the cable, by inserting it through the space between the strands thereof, so that the button extends longitudinally of the cable and is located within the expanded portion of the latter, the strands of the cable being seated Within the longitudinally extending grooves in the button above described. When the button is in position the flexible member 1 takes the place of the core which was removed and the ends of said member preferably abut the cut ends of the core, so that lengthwise movement of the button within the expanded portionof the cable is prevented.

In operation as long as the cable travels in a straight line or in an approximately straight line, the button assumes the position shown substantially in Fig. 1, but when button flexes longitudinally of the cable to the position substantially shown in Fig. 4, whereby it conforms to the curved surface over which it is passing, the flexible member 1 and the formation of the abutting faces of the sections permitting this movement.

The invention has a. number of advantages, chief among which are that it provents undue wear on the cable in that sharp turns in the cable adjacent the ends of the button, such as are prevalent in the rigid forms of button stops, is obviated, and the rope in winding upon a drum takes substantially its normal position thereon without forming objectionable projections thereon, as is the case with the old forms of rigid stops.

In order that the movement of the rigid sections comprising the flexible buttons will not chafe or break the strands of the flexible member 1, should said member consist of a rope or cable, I preferably expand or flare the ends of the openings 3 in said sections, as shown at 9 in Fig. 3, so that there will be no sharp edges on the sections at the ends of said openings.

I desire it understood that I do not limit my invention to the construction of a button which is to be arranged inside the strands of a cable or rope, as it is obvious the movable sections might be arranged on the exterior of the rope, in substantially the same manner as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A button stop comprising a plurality of rigid tubular sections assembled to provide a body which tapers from its middle toward both ends, the abutting end faces of the intermediate sections being of convex form to permit relative rocking movement between such sections, and adapted to receive flexible means for connecting the sections.

2. A button stop comprising a plurality of rigid tubular sections arranged end to end with their abutting end faces contact section, and said sections being formed with longitudinally extending spiral strand re ceiving grooves. I

4. A flexible button stop comprising 1 a plurality of rigid sections having their end faces formed to provide a rocking engagement between said sections, said sections being formed with external strand receiving grooves extending lengthwise of the button.

5. A flexible button stop comprising a flexible member, a plurality of rigid sections secured on said member, said sections having convexly curved faces at their opposite ends, the curved face at the end of one section having rocking engagement with the adjacent curved face of another section, and said sections being formed with continuous external spi 'al curves extending lengthwise of the button.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SHAW'. Witnesses C. R. MOODY, J. ]3. Permit.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

